PREVIEW: World RX returns to the 'birthplace of rallycross' Lydden Hill after a six-year hiatus.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

Lydden Hill – the legendary ‘Birthplace of Rallycross’ – is ready to welcome World RX for the first time in six years this weekend.

Tucked away in the ‘Garden of England’, Lydden Hill was featured on the World RX calendar from 2014 to 2017. During that period, some of the biggest heroes in the sport – Petter Solberg, Mattias Ekström, and Andreas Bakkerud – triumphed at the track.

Now, somebody else is poised to add their name to that illustrious list, as the championship’s latest-generation, all-electric beasts are let off the leash in Britain for the very first time.

Reigning Champion Johan Kristoffersson will lead the charge, as he seeks to further cement himself in history with a sixth career crown. 

Three from three so far in 2023, the Super Swede has not offered his rivals so much as a crumb for comfort, and he arrives on British shores holding a 27-point margin over his closest pursuer at the summit of the standings. 

Speaking ahead of the World RX of Lydden Hill, Kristoffersson is eager to point out: "Lydden is one of few tracks where I haven't won yet."

The five-time champion adds that: "Me and Ole Christian are pushing each other to become better drivers. The combination is like with Petter and me at PSRX in 2017 and 2018. Ole also has the experience from rally to bring into the team." 

Timmy Hansen – the driver who has pushed Kristofferson hardest over the past few years – will hope for stronger results in the United Kingdom, after claiming his first podium finish of the campaign at Höljes earlier this month. 

Younger brother Kevin, meanwhile, has a particular affinity with Lydden Hill, having participated in his first proper rallycross test at the circuit in a Suzuki Swift at the age of 13.

“It’s the home of rallycross and personally, I’ve had a lot of great memories there,” Kevin said. “I essentially began my rallycross career at the track and won there in both Swifts and RX Lites, so for me, it’s great to be back.”

Since Hansen last raced at Lydden, a fair bit has changed, of course. Turn One is now banked and considerably wider than it used to be – encouraging more side-by-side battles and overtakes – and incorporates a jump on the exit, just after the merge with the all-new joker.

Three drivers with more recent experience of the circuit than most are CE Dealer Team duo Niclas Grönholm and Klara Andersson, as well as Kristoffersson’s team-mate, Ole Christian Veiby. Andersson won on her debut there in an RX150 buggy in April as part of the British Rallycross Championship curtain-raiser.

"[Lydden Hill] is an iconic track that I was lucky enough to try earlier this year with a cross-car race that I won. With good memories from the track, it will be exciting to race on such an iconic track with our all-electric PWR RX1e. I am looking forward to continuing working hard with the team, and fight for important points in the championship," Klara Andersson said.

Andersson's stablemate, and second in the championship, Niclas Grönholm reacclimatised himself with the track last year.

"It will be nice to go back to Lydden Hill after a long break from the World RX. The track has undergone some construction since its last outing in the championship, and I was lucky to drive there last year," the Finn said. "I feel that the track is now even better than before. It is time to make a proper comeback after the eventful race in Sweden, and I am looking forward to go racing again."

Ole Christian Veiby has also previously raced at Lydden Hill, and admits that the track is: "technically it's an easier track than Höljes for example, so I expect more tight racing in this round."

The Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS driver believes that he has an advantage over Kristoffersson, and targets a superpole win. "Now is the time to beat Johan in the superpole. Since Årjäng, I have a psychological advantage over him," he said.

Nine times an FIA World Rally Champion, Sebastien Loeb is back in action in World RX this season for the first time since 2018 – and the car he is driving, the Lancia Delta Evo-e RX, pays homage to one of the most iconic machines in WRC history.

Loeb is joined at Special ONE Racing by team-mate and compatriot Guerlain Chicherit, while for all his wealth of experience in the sport, double DTM Champion Timo Scheider (ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport) has never previously competed at Lydden.

Finally, a new addition to the field by the name of Sondre Evjen who will replace Gustav Bergström at Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS this weekend. The highly-rated Norwegian was an event-winner in the FIA European Rallycross Championship’s top-tier Euro RX1 last year.

"This is going to be great fun," he said. "I have long wanted to drive one of these electric World RX cars. I have spoken to Johan and he says it's a great fun car to drive."

THE TRACK: LYDDEN HILL

THE TRACK INFORMATION:

Lydden Hill, situated in Kent, England is the birthplace of Rallycross hosting the first ever Rallycross event in 1967, with Vic Elford taking the honours in a Porsche 911. Lydden Hill now traditionally hosts 2 rounds of the British Rallycross Championship along with the UK round of the GRC Rallycross Europe.

The track has undergone significant developments since World RX last raced at the venue, including changes to the track.

The re-profiled opening corner has increased overtaking opportunities in events run on the revised layout so far, while the large jump in the first half of the lap has added a third dimension to the challenge for drivers, and a spectacular sight for the fans.

2023 FIA WORLD RX OF UNITED KINGDOM: ENTRY LIST

Johan Kristoffersson (Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS) - VW Polo RX1e

Sebastien Loeb (Special ONE Racing) - Lancia Delta Evo-e RX

Timmy Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) - Peugeot 208 RX1e

Niclas Gronholm (CE Dealer Team) - PWR RX1e

Kevin Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) - Peugeot 208 RX1e

Guerlain Chicherit (Special ONE Racing) - Lancia Delta Evo-e RX

Ole Christian Veiby (Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS) - VW Polo RX1e

Sondre Evjen (Kristoffersson Motorsport) - VW Polo RX1e

Klara Andersson (CE Dealer Team) - PWR RX1e

Timo Scheider (ALL-INLK Munnich Motorsport) SEAT Ibiza RX1e

Round 4 - World RX of United Kingdom (CAT Times)

SATURDAY:

PRACTICE: 12:05

SUPERPOLE: 13:05

HEAT 1: 15:40

HEAT 2: 17:40

SUNDAY:

WARM-UP: 11:30

HEAT 3: 12:10

HEAT 4: 13:50

SEMI-FINALS AND FINAL: (from) 16:00

GRID WRAP-UP SHOW: 17:00 [RX+ only]

2023 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS - CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS [AFTER ROUND 3]:

1) Johan Kristoffersson (Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS) - 69 POINTS

2) Niclas Gronholm (CE Dealer Team) - 42

3) Kevin Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) - 38

4) Ole Christian Veiby (Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS) - 35

5) Timmy Hansen (Hansen World RX Team) - 33

6) Timo Scheider (ALL-INLK Munnich Motorsport) - 31

7) Klara Andersson (CE Dealer Team) - 30

8) Sebastien Loeb (Special ONE Racing) - 29

9) Guerlain Chicherit (Special ONE Racing) - 27

10) Gustav Bergstrom (Kristoffersson Motorsport) - 20

Special ONE Racing in search of key to unlock more pace from Delta Evo-e, despite podium finish in Norway.

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

The long journey to return a former motorsport iconic to competitive form has begun, as Special ONE Racing looks to unlock more pace from their Lancia Delta Evo-e RX. 

Eight months ago, GCK Motorsport unveiled its plan to return to the FIA World Rallycross Championship with the iconic Lancia Delta Integrale, "a vehicle that made us all dream. It is a rally car par excellence - without a double the most incredible of its era - one that remains hugely popular to this day," Guerlain Chicherit, Special ONE Racing driver and team founder said.

Having made its debut on German soil last November [2022], the Lancia Evo-e RX immediately showed some promise, but after a 16 G impact against a wall after contact at turn two. The damage took some time to repair, and thus Sunday [day 2] was instead used as a test session.

The Lancia Delta has returned in 2023, this time with Special ONE Racing, a team founded by Guerlain Chicherit, a Dakar Rally driver and former freeskiing champion. But what's more iconic about the team this year, is the bringing together of two "L's" - Sebastien Loeb and the Lancia Delta.

"I’m from a generation that was brought up seeing wins by Lancia Deltas in rallying, so naturally I have a weakness for this car," Loeb said. "When Guerlain spoke to me the first time about tackling a rallycross season with it, I thought he was mad! Then I tried the car last December and was immediately won over by its dynamic qualities. I have great faith in this project and I can’t wait to champion it on tracks around the world."

The Frenchman to date has made the finals on both occasions, with a sixth-place finish in Portugal, and a fifth-place in Hell, Norway, but the team has some catching up to do. 

Sébastien Lesonneur, Team Manager of Special ONE Racing, explains: "We don't have data on every circuit in the championship because the regulations limit us to eight days of private testing per year, with power limited to 350 instead of 500 kW. We're starting from a bit further back than our rivals who came here last year. That's the game."

Despite the project being in its infancy, Sébastien Loeb set the third-fastest time on Saturday [last week] behind the dominant Volkswagen Dealerteam BAUHAUS team. The same can not be said for Guerlain Chicherit, who finished 10th in the SuperPole session. 

Chicherit was on for a second-place finish in Heat 2 on Saturday, but unfortunately, made the mistake of activating the "paddock mode button on the final lap, and finishing last. The error impacted the Frenchman's weekend, as he would line up in the last position for Heat 3. A very difficult deficit to overcome. The French driver was unable to make up this deficit before the semi-finals, where his weekend came to an end.

"We did some very good runs this weekend. The braking is incredible with this car. On the other hand, we're finding it harder to get traction coming out of corners. We spin a lot. We've tried different set-ups, but we haven't really found the key," Chicherit said. "We've still got a bit of work to do if we want to get on the podium, but we're working on it."

Whilst team-mate Loeb's Sunday wasn't all plain sailing either. Slightly trapped by the Kristoffersson Motorsport drivers at the start of Heat 4, he managed to snatch a position for the final, but from the third row, a position that didn't allow him to fight for the podium.

"We arrived here with a better level than in Portugal. But in rallycross, the success of a weekend can be decided by very little, and a single bad start often compromises what happens next. We're still in the final once again... But starting from the third row isn't easy. We're continuing to understand things about the car and I'm getting more and more comfortable with its balance," Loeb said.

Can the Lancia Delta name/brand return to winning ways? They sure can, but that can only truly happen once they unlock the untapped potential of their new car. 

Loeb "can't wait" to make World RX return in Lancia Delta.

PHOTO CREDIT: Special ONE Racing

Nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb will make a full-time return to the FIA World Rallycross Championship this year behind the wheel of a Lancia Delta Evo-e RX for Special ONE Racing.

Rallycross fans will fondly remember Loeb’s three seasons spent competing in World RX in a Peugeot 208 WRX from 2016 to 2018 – yielding two victories and 15 podium finishes from 36 outings. 

Five years on from his rallycross departure, the Frenchman is back, and he will join forces with Special ONE founder Guerlain Chicherit. "I’m from a generation that was brought up seeing wins by Lancia Deltas in rallying, so naturally I have a weakness for this car," he said.

"But when Guerlain spoke to me the first time about tackling a rallycross season with it, I thought he was mad! Then I tried the car last December and was immediately won over by its dynamic qualities. I have great faith in this project and I can’t wait to champion it on tracks around the world."

"I’m very motivated for the challenge, and I think rallycross is the ideal discipline for electrification because we have a lot of power and the races are short. These cars are exciting to drive, and World RX is the perfect platform to promote their evolution. The show on-track is just amazing, with great fights and even more spectacular action than before, and now we have the opportunity to attract a whole new generation of fans."

PHOTO CREDIT: Special ONE Racing

As a new player in the mobility landscape, Special ONE’s aim is to manufacture and distribute exclusive, eco-friendly retrofits of classic sports vehicles, with the team’s brace of new-generation, 500kW (680bhp) electric rallycross beasts – designed and built by GCK Performance.

Special ONE Racing has committed to run its two Delta Evo-e RXs in World RX for at least three seasons.

The team founder, and four-time Free Skiing World Champion Guerlain Chicherit, gave the Lancia a promising debut at the 2022 World RX season finale at Germany’s Nürburgring, but this year, he aims to make history!

"It’s a dream of mine to be able to align two cars from my own brand with World RX, one of which is entrusted to a sporting legend," he said. "The scene is set to see Special ONE Racing become a top-notch team. From this season, we’ll have the opportunity to make history, becoming the first to have a retrofitted car win a World Championship event. Let’s get going!"

The first of nine rounds in the 2023 FIA World RX season is set to take place on 03 and 04 June in Montalegre, Portugal.